Toy drum

ABSTRACT

A toy drum having an improved inexpensive construction which includes an open-ended cylindrical shell that may be formed of a paper-based material. A first drumhead is formed of an integral piece of plastic, the drumhead including an annular retaining collar conforming in shape to an end of the shell, the collar having joined inner and outer rings which contact the inner and outer extremities of the shell end, and a flat circular striking surface joined to the inner ring of the collar such that the striking surface is recessed within the shell. A second drumhead of preferably the same construction is secured to the opposite end of the shell. These drumheads lend structural support to the shell and allow the use of an inexpensive paper-based shell material. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the cylindrical shell has first and second apertures on opposite sides thereof and there is further provided an elongated dowel fitted through the apertures so as to protrude through the shell on both sides thereof. In this embodiment an elongated strap, having a plurality of apertures at each end, is coupled to the dowel, the strap being adjustable in length by selection of which strap apertures are coupled to the dowel.

United States Patent [1 1 Vennola et al.

[4 1 Feb. 25, 1975 TOY DRUM [75] Inventors: Jorma Vennola, Princeton; Erkki Pekka Korpijaako, Hightstown, both of NJ.

[73] Assignee: Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc.,

- New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 423,000

[52] US. Cl. 84/420, 84/421 [51] Int. Cl. G10d 13/02 [58] Field of Search 84/411, 420,414, 421, 84/422, 327; 224/5 R, 5 S, 5 A, 5 B, 25 R, 26 B, 26 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 913,796 3/1909 Woll'l' 84/420 1,914,652 6/1933 Stoer 84/420 1,980,876 11/1934 Peters 84/411 2,620,703 12/1952 Lebensfeld et a1. 84/420 3,146,659 9/1964 Robba et a1. 84/422 S 3,323,698 6/1967 Sottile 84/327 UX Primary ExaminerRichard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-John F. Gonzales 5 7] ABSTRACT A toy drum having an improved inexpensive construction which includes an open-ended cylindrical shell that may be formed of a paper-based material. A first drumhead is formed of an integral piece of plastic, the drumhead including an annular retaining collar conforming in shape to an end of the shell, the collar having joined inner and outer rings which contact the inner and outer extremities of the shell end, and a flat circular striking surface joined to the inner ring of the collar such that the striking surface is recessed within the shell. A second drumhead of preferably the same construction is secured to the opposite end of the shell. These drumheads lend structural support to the shell and allow the use of an inexpensive paper-based shell material. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the cylindrical shell has first and second apertures on opposite sides thereof and there is further provided an elongated dowel fitted through the apertures so as to protrude through the shell on both sides thereof. In this embodiment an elongated strap, having a plurality of apertures at each end, is coupled to the dowel, the strap being adjustable in length by selection of which strap apertures are coupled to the dowel.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEW-51975 3. 867, 8B 3 SHEET 2 0F 2 TOY DRUM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to amusement devices and, more specifically, to a toy drum having an improved inexpensive construction.

Since ancient times man has used the drum as an instrument of communication and entertainment. A toy drum is probably best defined as a drum of inexpensive construction with appeal to a child. Of course, a professional drum would offer much appeal, but the main distinction of a toy drum must be the ability to produce the drum at a cost which befits a toy.

The manufacture ofa relatively high quality toy drum has, in the past, of necessity involved the use of relatively expensive materials and techniques. For example, a typical drum includes a pair of drumhead membranes which must be stretched over the opposite ends of a drum body. This mounting of the drumheads results in considerable stress on the drum body so that a structurally sound drum body must be utilized. This factor, coupled with the need for mounting the drum heads, introduce elements of expense into production of the toy drum. Other types of toy drums have been devised where the drumheads are not under any significant pressure with respect to the drum body. In many cases, however, this results in a drum which produces inferior sound and resonance. Also, with some drums of both types, there is a problem associated with the type of sound that can be produced by the drum. It is desirable that the drum be capable of producing sounds which are loud enough to satisfy a child playing with the instrument, but the sounds should not be unduly loud or-annoying to others, especially adults. This factor should be taken into account when attempting to design a toy drum of inexpensive configuration. In other words, the qualityof the sound generated should not be unduly compromised by a desire to cut manufacturing costs.

It is an object of this invention to provide a sturdy toy drum which can be inexpensively manufactured, but which is still capable of generating a quality sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a toy drum which includes, as a main body member, an open-ended cylindrical shell which may be formed of an inexpensive and relatively weak material, for example, a paper-based material. In accordance with the invention there is provided a first drumhead formed of an integral piece of plastic, the drumhead including a peripheral annular retaining collar and a central striking surface. The retaining collar conforms its shape to an end of the cylindrical shell, the collar having joined inner and outer rings which contact the inner and outer extremities of the shell end. The striking surface is a flat circular surface joined to the inner ring of the collar such that the striking surface is recessed within the shell. A second drumhead, preferably of the same construction as the recited first drumhead, is provided at the opposite ends of the shell. The two drumheads actually help define and retain the shape and structural integrity of the cylindrical shell, and allow the use of an inexpensive shell material.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shell has first and second apertures on opposite sides thereof. In this embodiment, an elongated dowel is fitted through the apertures so as to protrude through the shell on both sides thereof. There is further provided an elongated strap having a plurality of apertures on each end thereof, the apertures being proportioned to fit snugly on the protruding ends of the dowel. In this manner, the effective length of the strap is adjustable by selection of which strap apertures are coupled to the dowel. Also, this means of mounting a strap to the toy drum offers further structural integrity to the drum, rather than increasing structural stresses, as would normally be expected from a mounting.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an elevational perspective view of the toy drum in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the drum of FIG. 1 and taken through a section defined by the arrows 22;

FIG. 3 is an elevational perspective view of the drumhead of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a drumstick in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an embodiment of a toy drum 10 in accordance with the invention. A cylindrical drum body 20 can be formed of any suitable material but, from the standpoint of economy, should be formed of an inexpensive material such as cardboard. A pair of identical drumheads 30 and 40 are mounted on the opposite end of the drum body or shell 20. The drumheads, shown in FIG. 3, are each preferably vacuum-formed of an integral piece of styrene-based plastic. Each of the drumheads includes a peripheral annular retaining collar 50 and a central flat circular striking surface 60. The collar 50 consists of an outer ring 51 which is joined by a shoulder 52 to an inner ring 53. The shoulder 52 is proportioned such that the collar 50 conforms in shape to the end of the shell. In other words, the joined inner and outer rings 51 and 53 contact the inner and outer extremities of the shell and the shoulder 52 contacts the edge of the shell end. The flat circular striking surface 60 is thus reset in the shell by an amount which depends on the width of the ring 53. The two drumheads 30 and 40 may be permanently secured to the shell end using any suitable adhesive material. Once in place, the plastic drumheads lend a degree of structural integrity to the cardboard shell 20.

In the present embodiment the shell 20 is provided with a pair of apertures 21 and 22 on opposite sides thereof. An elongated dowel 23 is fitted through the apertures so as to protrude through the shell on both sides thereof. A strap 24, which may be formed of any suitable elastic material, is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 25 at each of its ends. The apertures 25 are proportioned to fit snugly on the protruding ends of the dowel so that the effective length of the strap is adjustable by selection of the appropriate apertures. The dowel 23 is found to lend even further structural integrity to the shell 20 while providing a convenient means for fastening the mounted strap 24. A pair of pins can be employed, as shown in FIG. 2, to hold the dowel 23 in place.

FlG. 4 shows a drumstick that is suitable as part of the overall set comprising the drum toy which, in most instances, will include a pair of drumsticks. The drumstick consists of an elongated wooden dowel 70 and a striker ball 71 fastened to an end thereof. The striker ball 71 is preferably formed of flexible polyvinyl chloride of shore A durometer. The ball 71 is preferably formed by rotational molding. It has been found that when the relatively soft ball 71 strikes the styrenebased surface 60, a dulled sound is produced which is sufficiently loud to satisfy the child user, but not unduly annoying to adults.

We claim:

1. A toy drum comprising:

an open-ended cylindrical shell having first and second apertures on opposite sides thereof;

an elongated dowel fitted through said apertures so as to protrude through said shell on both sides thereof;

an elongated strap having a plurality of apertures at each end thereof, said apertures being proportioned to fit snuggly on, the protruding end of said dowel so that the effective length of said strap is adjustable by selection of which strap apertures are coupled to the dowel; a first drumhead formed of an integral piece of plastic, said drumhead including an annular retaining collar conforming in shape to an end of said shell, said collar having joined inner and outer rings which contact the inner and outer extremities of said shell end, and a flat circular striking surface joined to the inner ring of said collar such that said striking surface is recessed within said shell; and second drumhead formed of an integral piece of plastic, said second drumhead including an annular retaining collar conforming in shape to the opposite end of said shell, said collar having gained inner and outer rings which contact the inner and outer extremities of said opposite end of the shell, and a flat circular striking surface joined to the inner ring of said collar such that said striking surface is recessed within said shell.

2. The toy drum as defined by claim 1 wherein said cylindrical shell is formed of a paper-based material.

3. The toy drum as defined by claim 2 wherein said drumheads are formed of a styrene-based plastic; 

1. A toy drum comprising: an open-ended cylindrical shell having first and second apertures on opposite sides thereof; an elongated dowel fitted through said apertures so as to protrude through said shell on both sides thereof; an elongated strap having a plurality of apertures at each end thereof, said apertures being proportioned to fit snuggly on the protruding end of said dowel so that the effective length of said strap is adjustable by selection of which strap apertures are coupled to the dowel; a first drumhead formed of an integral piece of plastic, said drumhead including an annular retaining collar conforming in shape to an end of said shell, said collar having joined inner and outer rings which contact the inner and outer extremities of said shell end, and a flat circular striking surface joined to the inner ring of said collar such that said striking surface is recessed within said shell; and a second drumhead formed of an integral piece of plastic, said second drumhead including an annular retaining collar conforming in shape to the opposite end of said shell, said collar having gained inner and outer rings which contact the inner and outer extremities of said opposite end of the shell, and a flat circular striking surface joined to the inner ring of said collar such that said striking surface is recessed within said shell.
 2. The toy drum as defined by claim 1 wherein said cylindrical shell is formed of a paper-based material.
 3. The toy drum as defined by claim 2 wherein said drumheads are formed of a styrene-based plastic. 